Retaining assemblies



June 8, 1965 T. G. BLOMBERG 3,187,400

' RETAINING ASSEMBLIES Filed Jan. 18, 1962 I //"\i\ I. 1" 2 l 1 w 20 an 32 24 r [mu-aw" L l l 22 m @mwgam 1| l 68' INVENTOR. Theodore 6! B/omberg BY M 42 y 3% A TTORNE YS United States Patent O 3,187,400 RETAINING ASSEMBLIES Theodore G. Blomberg, 7336 W. Greenleai,

Chicago 31, Ill. Filed Jan. 18, 1962, Ser. No. 167,094 11 Claims. (Cl. 24-257) This invention relates to retaining assemblies, and components of such assemblies. More particularly, this invention relates to a retaining assembly which includes a resilient cord or band employed to hold articles or objects in fixed position to a base and which is readily adjustable in length to so hold articles or objects alternately which are of different cross-sectional thicknesses, widths and weights.

Heretofore, when a resilient cord 'or band was fixed at each end to a base and was to be employed to hold alternately various objects of different cross sectional thicknesses, widths or weights such as broom handles, water skis, and the like, against the base, difliculty was encountered because the band was of fixed length and could not be adjusted as to either length or tension to satisfactorily accommodate alternately objects of dilTerent sizes, shapes and weights. Thus, the length of the band could not be adjusted with such prior art assemblies for holding to the base objects of different weights and contour.

With the present invention, I substantially overcome the problems and difliculties of the prior art by providing a cord retaining assembly including a resilient band which is removably retained at one or both ends to a base and the length of which is adjustable at one or both ends to increase or decrease the corresponding tension applied to the band to thereby accommodate holding of objects of various cross-sectional thicknesses and weights to the base.

It is, therefore, an object of the present'invention to provide a new and improved retaining assembly including a resilient cord or band which is removably connected to a base at one or both ends.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved retaining assembly including a band or cord of elastic material which is mounted or secured at each end to a base with at least one end thereof removably secured to the base to permit adjustment of the length of the band and thereby provide means for varying the tension in'the band to permit alternate holding of objects of different weights and cross-sectional thicknesses in a fixed position to the base. j

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a holder assembly including an elastic band of ma- I terial having a resilient memory which is detachably connected at both ends to a base and which is adjustable in length to varythe tension on the band so that the band can alternately hold to the base objects of various widths i and cross-sectional thicknesses.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an elastic band or cord which carriesa hook at one end,

' the bight of which hook is adapted to receive and firmly hold a portion of the band to form a loop, so that when tension is applied to the band which elongates the portion of the band formed into a closed loopby said hook, the hand holding effect of the hook is increased with increase in said tension.

A still further object of the present invention is'to provide a retaining device comprising a length of shock cord carrying a hook at oneend, the bight of which book I is adapted to receive and retain a portion of the shock cord so that when tension isapplied to .elongate a'portion of the shock cord formed into a closed loop by the hook,

the free end of the shock cord adjacent the. hook-is increased in'cross-sectional thickness and thereby'increases the holding effect of the hook on the band with increase in said applied tension.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cord retaining assembly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cord retaining assembly including a new and improved mounting plate and interlocked pivotable cord retainer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method of forming an interlocked cord retainer and mounting plate.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from a careful consideration of the following detailed description, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments and principles of the present invention and wherein: 7

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a preferred embodiment of a retaining assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of an improved hookcarrying shock cord retaining device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of an improved hook adapted to be carried by the shock cord device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view in partial elevation of a cord retaining mounting bracket assembly mounted on a plastic base;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top view in elevation of the cord retaining assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation of the cord retainer plate blank;

FIG. 8 is a view in elevation of the cord retainer of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a top view in elevation of the plate blank of FIG. 7 positioned in a die press base shown schematically;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the press of FIG. 9 illustrating the blank plate and cord retainer in position for forming an interlocked mounting bracket assembly; and 7 FIG. 11 is partially broken away view of FIG 10 illustrating the formed mounting bracket assembly upon completion of the forming operation.

Briefly stated, the adjustable length article or object retaining assembly of the presentinvention, an embodiment of which appears in FIG. 1, includes a base 12, a connector pin 14 carried by the base to which one end of a cord in attachable, a cord retaining mounting bracket assembly 16 carried by the base 12 in spaced to the pin 14 by a hook 20 carried thereby and nemov:

ably connected to the mounting bracket assembly 16, The assembly 16 comprises a mounting bracket plate 11 and a cord retainer 22 pivotally linked to the bracket plate 11 to hold the cord 18 and to permit adjustment of the portion 18a of the cord 18 between'the pin 14 and mounting bracket assembly 16 so that the length and tension of the portion 18a of the cord 18 between the pin 14 and mounting bracket assembly 16; may be increased and decreased within limits determined by the space between the pin 14 and mounting bracket assembly 16, the elastic limit of the band 18, and the weight and size of an article or object 24 shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, held in fixed position to the base by the cord 18, so that objects or articles ofdifr'erent weight, may be accommodated with the article retaining assembly.

The cord 18 is of sutficient length so that the free end26 of the cord 18 adjacent theretainer 22 is permitted to increase in crosssectional thickness and thereby cooperates with the cord retainer 22 in increasing the holding or retaining effect of the cord retainer 22 when the tension load applied to the portion 18a of the band 18 between the pin 14 and cord retainer 22 increases. Thus, in accordance with the present invention the holding or retaining effect of the cord retainer 22 increases with an increase in the tension load applied to the portion 18a of the band extending between the pin 14 and bracket assembly 16 to hold the article 24 to the base 12.

Referring to FIG. 1, the pin 14 is preferably a screw or nail where the base 12 is wood. However, for installations on plastic material, such as boats, the pin 14 may be carried by a mounting plate 28 cemented or otherwise secured to the plastic base, as appears in FIG. 1. The pin 14 is provided with a head 30a to prevent the hook from slipping off the pin 14 during use of the article holding assembly.

Thus, with the adjustable length article holding assembly of FIG. 1, articles of different sizes, shapes, and weights may be effectively held alternately in a fixed position against the base 12 by the portion of the band 18a detachably connected by the hook 20 to the pin 14 at one end and detachably secured or crimped in the bight of the cord retainer 22. Any additional tension applied to the portion 18a of the band 18 between the pin 14 and cord retainer 22 will increase the holding elfect of the cord retainer 22 on the band because the portion of the free end 26 of the band adjacent the cord retainer 22 will increase in cross-section or thickness in response to the increased tension load.

The band 18 is removably secured to the cord retainer 22 so that, if another object or article 24 of different size, configuration, or weight than that shown in FIG. 1 is to be held to the base 12, the tension on the portion of the band 18 between the pin 14 and cord retainer 22 may be increased or decreased accordingly to assure that the article or object 24 is firmly held in position between the portion of the band 18a and base 12 and against the base 12.

As appears in FIG. 2, the hook 20 is connected to the band 18 of elastic material at one end thereof. The hook20 may be crimped or otherwise secured to the band 18 and a sleeve 30 may be employed to conceal the crimped portion of the hook 20 and the band 18 to present an attractive appearance to the adjustable length holder and to prevent unravelling of the flexible cloth casing or cover 32 (FIG. 4) of the elastic material forming the band 18. At its other end, the free end 26, the band 18 is provided with a cap 34 to prevent unravelling of the cover 32-and to present a pleasing appearance to the adjustable length holder band 18.

The elastic material forming the band 18 may comprise a single strand of elastic material, such as rubber, either synthetic or natural, or other elastic material, depending upon the requirements of the particular application for which the adjustable length holder is to be employed or, as shown in FIG. 4, may comprise a pluralityof elastic lengths 36 of such material encased in the cover 32. The plurality of elastic members 36 may each be of rectangular cross-section, as clearly appears in FIG. 4, and such an assemblage of encased elastic members is commonly known in the trade as Shock Cord. Shock Cord is characterized by a greater fatigue life when compared to the fatigue life of a single strand of elastic material and by an ability to withstand shock loads over a prolonged period of time when compared to the same ability of single elastic bands.

Where the retaining member is to be employed, for example, as a tourniquet, a portion of the band 18 may be slipped into the bight of the hook 20 to be firmly retained therein in the event tension is applied either to the portion of the band 18 forming the tourniquet loop or to the free end 26 of the band 18. For this purpose, as appears in FIG. 2, the distance S between the free end 21 of the hook 20 and the band connected end 21a defining the bight of the hook 20 is a dimension less than the corresponding dimension of the band 18 so that, by so dimensioning the space S to the corresponding dimension of the band 18, the hook crimps or bites into the band 18, and a tension load applied to the band to elongate either the looped portion or the free end 26 of the band will cause the band adjacent the book 20, on the side of the hook opposite the side to which the tensionload is applied, to increase in crosssectional dimension as appears in FIG. 1. In this manner an increase in the holding elfect of the hook 20 is achieved by increase in thickness of the band on one side of the hook with an increase in the tension load which is applied on the opposite side of the hook to thereby elongate the band 18 and reduce its cross-sectional dimension of the latter portion of the band. It will be appreciated that any holding device which will crimp the cord or band 18 in the above described manner may be substituted for the hook 20.

As aforesaid, the hook 20 may be crimped to secure the hook 20 to the band 18 or, as appears in FIG. 3, the hook 20 may be secured, as by welding or soldering, to a conical spiral or helix 20a of spring metal with the secured end of the band 18 disposed in the space defined by the helix 20a.

Thus, the adjustable retaining member, comprising the band 18 and hook 20, has a variety of applications when the band is looped, inserted and crimped in the bight of the hook 20 which crimps and retains the band to form a closed loop, such applications being tourniquets, and holders or cables for securing a plurality of members together temporarily. Employment of a hook 20 construction additionally facilitates quick connection and disconnection thereof from the band 18.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, the mounting plate and interlinked pivotal cord retainer 22 of the article retaining assembly may be secured to the base 12 as by screws 40 or may be secured to a base 42 (FIG. 5) of plastic material by'an adhesive 44. The retainer 22 is free to pivot between the positions shown in full lines and in dotted lines in FIG. 5 to facilitate insertion, removal, and adjustment of the length of and tens-ion on cord 18 in the bight of the retainer 22. Normally, when the band is to be inserted and crimped in the bight of the hook 20, the retainer 22 is held with the fingers by the user in a perpendicular position with respect to the mounting plate 16 (FIG. 5) and the band 18 is threaded between the retainer 22 and plate 16, and then, when so threaded, tension is applied to the free end 26 of the band 18 to elongate the band to provide the proper band tension required to hold a particular object or article 24 between the portion 18a of the band and the base 12 and to the base 12. After the tension has been so applied, the band 18 is moved upwardly (FIG. 5), while under such tension, into the bight of the retainer 22, which crimps and holds the band and the tension applied to the free end 26 of the band is thereafter released by the user. The retainer 22 will then pivot from such perpendicular position shown in FIG. 5 in the direction of the portion 18:: of the band and, although the tension on the portion 18a of the band 18 between the pin 14 and retainer 22 will be decreased by such movement, the tension remaining on portion 18a normally will still be of sufiicient magnitude to hold the article 24 to the base 12 in a fixed position. When the tension is released by the operator of the assembly of FIG. 1 from the free end 26 thereof, the deformed and'elongated free end 26 will return to its unloaded condition and its cross-section will be increased. Thus, as appears in FIG. 1, the portion 18a of the band 18 under tension between the pin and retainer 22 is of lesser cross-sectional dimension than the free end 26 of the band extending between the retainer 22 and end cap 34, and the portion 18b of the cord 18 in the bight of the retainer 22 is of lesser cross-sectional dimension than either the portion 18a 01'' free end 26 because of its beingcrimped in the bight of the hook.

The retainer 22, as illustrated in FIG. 8, is constructed of a U shaped metal rod of circular cross-section having an arcuate central portion forming the bight 48 of the retainer 22 and having joined thereto legs 50 and 51 which extend from the bight portion 48 substantially parallel to each other a distance, and which then flare outwardly as at 52 and 54. The flared leg portions 52 and 54 then extend inwardly a short distance in parallel relation to each other, as at 55 and 56. The parallel portion 55 terminates in an outturned end 58 and, similarly, the portion 56 terminates in an out-turned end 60. The leg portions 52 and 54 are outwardly flared to facilitate threading of the band 18 between the retainer 22 and mounting plate 16, in the manner fully discussed above. The distance d between the leg portions 52 and 54 is, therefore, greater than the outer dimension of the band 18, when not under tension, to facilitate such threading of the band 18. The distance, D, however, between the substantially parallel leg portions 50 and 51 'is less than the outer dimension of the band 18 so that when the band 18 is moved into the bight 48 of the retainer 22, the parallelleg portions 58 and 51 bite into, or crimp, the band portion 18b. Similarly, the length L of each of the legs 50 and 51 is of greater dimension than the corresponding dimension of the band 18 when retained by the retainer 22 so that the possibility of the band 18 slipping out of the bight 48 is minimized.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the outturned ends 58 and 60 of the retainer 22 ride on the corresponding bearing surfaces 62 provided by a medial pair of spaced apart arched sockets 66 and 68, projecting from the surface of the plate 16 and extending transversely to a preselected axis of the plate 16, positioned between the base-attaching ends 70 and 72 of the plate 16 which are provided with apertures 74, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, for receiving the screws 48, if the plate 16 is to be mounted to a wood base 12. Thus, thesockets 66 and 68 extend transversely of one axis of the plate 16.

The retainer 22 also extends transversely of the said axis of the plate, and is pivotally linked to the plate 16, To permit free pivotal movement of the retainer 22, a pair of spaced apart oblong slots 76 and 78 are formed in the plate between the sockets 66 and 68. Each of the slots extend substantially parallel to' the said axis of the plate and the ends 52 and 54 of the retainer 22 extend through the slots 76 and 78 with the outturned ends 58 and 60 thereof ridable against the bearing surfaces of the sockets 66 and 68 respectively.

An opening 80 in the plate 16 extends transversely to the said axis of the plate and connects slots 76 and 78.

The slots 76 and 78 and. the opening 80 define a pair of facing co-planar internal plate tabs 82 and 84.. The

interlocking mounting plate 16' and retainer 22, when mounted to the base 12, provide means for quick adjustment of the length and tension of the band 18 and the construction of the retainer 22 pivotally linked to the plate 16 facilitates threading of the band into the bight of the retainer 22.

A feature of the present invention resides in the method of manufacturing the cord retaining mounting assembly of FIG. 6.

As appears in FIG. 7, a fiat plate 16a of metal, such as steel, is provided with an I-shaped aperture 85, which is of a greater width than the opening 88 of the mounting plate 16 of FIG. 6. vThe tabs 82 and 84 are spaced from each other a substantialdistance when compared with the spacing distance of the tabs 82 and 84 shown in FIG. 6. The plate blank 16a is then bottomed, as shown in FIG.

9, on a press die bottom 86 and aligned by pins 87. The V aperture of the blank 16a is centered over an opening 90 in the die bottom, as clearly appears in FIG. 10, which is of sufiicientdepth to receive the retainer 22 of FIG. 8. The retainer 22 is then inserted in the aperture 35 with S 8 is then moved downwardly through an aperture formed in the upper die platen 92 for contact only with the legs 58 and 68 of the retainer 22. The lower end contacting face 99 of the core 8 is curved to conform to the contour of the ends 58 and 68 of the retainer 22. The corners 101 and 182. of the lower platen 86 adjacent the retainer 22 are curved so that when the core is actuated to move downwardly the force is applied only to the ends 58 and 68 ofthe retainer 22, the force being suilicient to arch the plate blank 16a beneath the ends 58 and 68 to form both the arcuate sockets 66 and 68, and the bearing surfaces 62 of the sockets 66 and 68. In arching the plate blank 16a to form the sockets 66 and 68, the force applied to the ends 58 and 60 reduces the width of the plate blank 16a, as appears in FIG. 11, and tabs 82 and 84 are drawn together to a position, such as that shown in FIG. 6, to therebyclose the space 85 between the tabs 82 and 84 and to thereby simultaneously pivota'lly interlock the retainer 22 with the plate 16 in a single forming operation.

Upon completion of the forming of the bracket assembly the core 98 is withdrawn upwardly and the upper platen S 2 moved from the forming position to permit removal of the now interlinked plate 16 and retainer 22 from the bottom platen 86.

The apertures 74 may then be punched in the plate, if desired, and the assembly is now ready for mounting to the base 12.

It will be appreciated that with the method of manufacturing the assembly above described, the outturned ends 58 and 68 of the retainer 22 act under the influence of the force applied by the die core 98 to form the sockets 66 and 68 and bearing surfaces 62 from the plate blank 16a and, in the same operation, pivotally interlink the retainer 212 with the plate 16 by reducing the Width of the space between the tabs 82. and 84. Y

Although various minor modifications of the present invention will become readily apparent to those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution'to the art; i

I claim:

1. A holder assembly comprising a base, a pin carried by said base, a bracket and a movable holder including a rod having a bight, said holder being carried by said base in spaced relation to said pin, and a band of elastic material, a hook end on said band, said hook end being cooperable with said pin for removably connecting one'end of said band, the other end of said band being removably retained by said holder in the -bight, the portion of said band extending between said pin and said holder being adapted to cooperate with said base to retain a member in a fixed position therebet-ween.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the rod of said holder ispivotally linked tosaid bracket.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said band is constructed of shock cord.

4. A cord retaining assembly comprising, a mounting then converging towards each other for a distance, said extensions being joined .by an arcuate portion and forming therebetween a bight sized to crimp an elastic cord inserted between said extensions adjacent said arcuate portion.

5. The cord retaining assembly of claim 4 wherein the mounting plate is provided with attaching ends extending radially with respect to said medial portion of said plate.

6. A holder assembly comprising a base, a pin carried by the base, a bracket carried by the base in spaced relation to said pin, said bracket comprising a mounting plate having a medial pair of spaced apart and arched sockets projecting therefrom, each of said sockets providing a bearing surface, an opening in the plate, a band retainer having a bight portion and extending through said opening transversely to one axis of said plate, said retainer being pivotally linked to said plate by turned ends, each of said ends being disposed in one of said sockets for engagement with said bearing surface to permit pivotal movement of said retainer, and a band of shock cord material removably connected near one end thereof to said pin and removably retained by crimping thereof near its other end in said bight portion of said retainer, the portion of said band extending between said pin and said retainer being adapted to cooperate with said base to retain a member in fixed position therebetween, with one end portion of the band in free extension from one side of said bight portion, the portion of said band on the side of said retainer opposite said free extension increasing in thickness when a force is applied to said free extension portion whereby the retaining effect of said retainer is increased in proportion to the force so applied.

7. A cord retaining assembly comprising, a mounting plate having attaching ends and a medial pair of spaced apart and arched sockets projecting from the surface of the plate, each of said sockets providing a bearing surface extending transversely of one axis of said plate, a pair of spaced apart oblong slots formed in the plate between said sockets, each of said slots extending substantially parallel to said one axis of said plate, an opening in the plate between said slots and extending transversely to said one axis for communicating said slots, said slots and said opening defining a pair of co-planar internal plate tabs, and an inverted U-shaped cord retainer having a pair of legs, said retainer extending transversely of said one axis of the plate with one of said legs of said retainer extending through each of said slots, each of said legs having an outturned end engageable in said socket with said bearing surface to link said retainer and said plate and to permit pivotal movement of said retainer relative to said plate, said cord retainer including a body portion comprising a pair of parallel extensions carrying said legs and extending away from said legs a distance, said extensions converging for a distance and joined by an arcuate portion to form a bight portion, said band being crimped when inserted in said bight portion by said extensions to retain said band.

8. A cord retaining assembly comprising a mounting plate having a medial pair of spaced-apart and arched sockets projecting from the surface thereof, each of said sockets providing a bearing surface, an H-shaped opening in the plate extending between said sockets, the connecting cross portion of said H-shaped opening extending transversely of said plate, and a cordretaining inverted U- shaped member having a portion thereof extending through the said cross portion of said H-shaped opening for retaining a cord, said retaining member having outturned ends disposed for engagement with the bearing surfaces of said sockets to permit pivotal movement of said member, said member including a pair of spaced extensions carrying said outturned ends, said extensions extending convergingly towards each other for a distance :and joined by an arcuate portion defining a cord retaining bight.

9. A cord retaining assembly comprising, a mounting plate having a medial pair of spaced-apart and arched sockets projecting from the surface of the plate, each of said sockets providing a bearing surface, a pair of spaced apart oblong slots in the plate between said sockets and extending parallel to one axis of the plate, a transverse opening in the plate joining said slots, said opening and slots being defined by a pair of facing co-planar internal tabs of said plate, and a cord retainer extending through said slot and having a pair of outturned ends in engagement with said sockets for pivotally linking the retainer to said plate, said cord retainer including a pair of spaced extensions carrying said outturned ends and converging towards each other in a direction away from said outturned ends and joined by an arcuate portion defining a cord retaining bight.

10. An adjustable holder comprising a length or band of elastic material and a hook carried by said material, said book being adapted to receive and retain a first portion of said material in a bight thereof to thereby form a closed loop, said hook including two substantially parallel and spaced portions joined by an intermediate arcuate portion, said parallel portions defining therebetween a space, the distance between said parallel portions across said space being less than the width of said elastic material so that said parallel portions crimp the elastic material therebetween when a linear portion of the band is inserted between said parallel portions to thereby retain the elastic material and complete formation of said closed loop, each of the elastic material portions on either side of the hook increasing in width when a force is applied to elongate the portion of the elastic material on the other side of the hook whereby the holding effect of the hook on the elastic material is increased in proportion to the force so applied.

11. The holder of claim 10 wherein said elastic material is a band of shock cord.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 203,002 4/78 Crane 29-439 327,363 9/85 Weeks 24-131 583,608 6/97 Tate 24-115 631,678 8/99 Shepherd 24-123 780,994 1/05 Hanan 24-131 X 1,513,871 11/24 Staniewicz 24-143 1,649,027 11/27 Gunn 24-143 2,632,941 3/53 Warner 24-439 FOREIGN PATENTS 335,701 12/03 France.

3 70,479 12/06 France.

533,322 12/21 France.

677,450 12/29 France. 1,229,921 3/60' France.

154,828 12/20 Great Britain.

212,172 3/24 Great Britain.

134,256 9/29 Switzerland.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. ABRAHAM STONE, Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A BASE, A PIN CARRIED BY SAID BASE, A BRACKET AND A MOVABLE HOLDER INCLUDING A ROD HAVING A BIGHT, SAID HOLDER BEING CARRIED BY SAID BASE IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID PIN, AND A BAND OF ELASTIC MATERIAL, A HOOK END ON SAID BAND, SAID HOOK END BEING COOPERABLE WITH SAID PIN FOR REMOVABLY CONNECTING ONE END OF SAID BAND, THE OTHER END OF SAID BAND BEING REMOVABLY RETAINED BY SAID HOLDER IN THE BIGHT, THE PORTION OF SAID BAND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PIN AND SAID HOLDER BEING ADAPTED TO COOPERATE WITH SAID BASE TO RETAIN A MEMBER IN A FIXED POSITION THEREBETWEEN. 